Germany, UK to deliver long-range weapons to Ukraine under new pact
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Germany and the UK have signed a landmark defense pact enabling the joint delivery of long-range weapons to Ukraine, marking a major escalation in European military support.
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, left, with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, back left, and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, back right, at the signing ceremony for a broad bilateral cooperation treaty in London, Thursday, July 17, 2025 (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)
Ukraine is set to receive new long-range weapons systems developed through joint efforts by British and German defense industries, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Thursday. The deliveries are expected to begin within the next few weeks and continue over the coming months.
The statement followed the signing of a new bilateral agreement between Germany and the United Kingdom. Chancellor Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer formalized what they described as a "historic" treaty focused on friendship and enhanced defense cooperation during a joint appearance in Berlin.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Starmer, Merz stressed the expanded scope of military assistance to Ukraine. "We had a detailed discussion about military support for Ukraine, and this is not only about air defense, but also about Ukraine's ability to better defend itself with long-range systems. We call this long range fire," he said during the event, which was broadcast by Germany's Phoenix TV.
He added that "Ukraine will soon receive significant additional support in this area, including through the industrial cooperation that we have established with Ukraine."
Arming Ukraine
The delivery of these advanced systems comes in light of a deepening of European defense collaboration in support of Ukraine, amid ongoing hostilities with Russia. The weapons transfer is part of a broader framework outlined in the Kensington Treaty, signed on July 17, 2025, in London, the first post-WWII bilateral defense treaty between the UK and Germany. The pact not only strengthens joint military production but also facilitates financing and technological cooperation with Ukraine's domestic arms industry.
Germany has already committed approximately €5 billion to support Ukraine's production of long-range strike capabilities and has lifted previous range restrictions on German-supplied weapons, enabling Kiev to strike targets within Russian territory. British-German collaboration is also laying the foundation for future deep-precision systems with ranges exceeding 2,000 km, designed to ensure sustained deterrence capabilities in Eastern Europe.
These moves reflect a decisive shift in European defense policy amid increasing urgency to counter growing Russian military pressure.
Read more: Zakharova mocks EU's Kallas over Trump's Ukraine arms plan
Provocative escalation
Moscow has responded with sharp warnings. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned Germany’s posture, suggesting it reveals the true intentions behind Western support for Kiev.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticized the deepening UK-Germany military alignment as a destabilizing factor for European security. Former President Dmitry Medvedev went further, cautioning that continued Western arms deliveries to Ukraine may provoke preemptive Russian strikes.
In a statement reported by TASS, he described the expanding range and sophistication of Western weapons as justification for escalating Russia’s own military posture.
Russian officials argue that this latest escalation marks a direct provocation, framing the treaty and weapons transfer as an existential threat that could draw Europe into broader conflict.
